Shell opener for cigarette packaging machines



Nov. 20, 1934.

P. M. NEJ EDLY 1,981,463 SHELL QPENER FOKCIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1954 2 Sheets-Shet 1 FIG! QIIIZZQIZIL- I o lllullnl llullllrllllu I'll:

INVENTOR ATTORNEY No v. 20, 1934. P. M. NEJEDLY 1,931,463

SHELL OPENER FOR'CIGARETTE PACKAGING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 15, 1934 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES SHELL OPENER FQR CIGARETTE PACKAGING WLCHENES Application February 15, 1924, Serial No. 711,414

8 Claims.

This invention relates to shell openers for packaging machines of the type in which the articles are placed in a slide and then inserted into a shell, and more particularly to cigarette packaging machines of this type.

The main object of this invention is to provide positive means for opening a collapsed cardboard shell so that a slide containing the product to be wrapped can be inserted into the opened shell quickly and automatically. In devices used heretofore great difficulties were experienced if the collapsed shells became bent or the layers of cardboard stuck together. This invention has the great advantage that due to the positive means for clamping and thus straightening the shell before opening and the use of positive means for opening it, any collapsed shell regardless of shape or condition can be opened with great facility. With this and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and'then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of the shell opening device;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same taken on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the shell opening device;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a collapsed shell;

Figs. 5 to 8 are detail views showing how the collapsed shell is taken from a magazine and positively located and clamped;

Fig. 8A is a partial end view of the shell in Fig. 8, taken on an enlarged scale and showing how the layers of cardboard are clamped together before opening;

Figs. 9 to 11 are detail views illustrating the different steps during the opening of the shell;

and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an opened shell ready for use.

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided a magazine adapted to contain a stack of collapsed cardboard shells having seams in their bottoms, a support forthe stack of shells in said magazine, a stationary plate, pusher arms for ejecting the lowermost shell from said stack onto' said plate, a clamping finger movable into position to engage the top of the collapsed shell on said plate at a region above the seam in its bottom, a. reciprocable clamping blade adapted to be inserted into the collapsed shell adjacent-- its inner seam edge while it'is clamped by said: finger and to hold said shell to said plate while said finger withdrawn from clamping position, afolder for opening the collapsed shell While it is held by said blade and the clamping finger is out of clamping position, and an ejector for pushing the opened shell off said plate. These various means and parts may be widely varied in construction within thescope of the claims for the particular device selected 'to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

The shell opener consists of a magazine 20 in which are stacked the collapsed shells S. The magazine 20 is mountedon a frame 21 and the collapsed shells S are ejected from the magazine 20 one by one, by horizontally reciprocating pusher arms 22 and pushed onto a plate 23 stationarily mounted on frame 21. Pusher arms 22 are attached to a bracket 24 connected through link 25 to cam lever26 fulcrumed on stud'27 supported in a bearing of frame 21} The arm 28 of cam lever 26 carries a cam roller 29 engaging in a cam track 30 of cam 31 mounted on shaft 32 operated from the main drive of the machine. After the collapsed shells is moved ontoiplate 23, the top surface of which is about one half :of the thickness of the collapsed shell lower than thetop face ofthe guide bars 33supporting the stack of shells in the magazine 20, the collapsed shell S is pressed firmly to the top face of plate 23 by means of clampingfinger 34. The latter clampsthe top of thecollapsed shellxabove the pasted seam in the bottom of the shell, at which point there are three superposed layers'of 'cardboard (see Fig. 8A). This operation forces open the portion of the collapsed shell adjacent the inner seam edge an extent corresponding to one thickness of the cardboard, and firmly holds the shell and straightens it if it is bent. 'Into the slightlyopened portion of the shell a clamping blade 35 is inserted between'the top'and bottom of. the "shell, and presses the bottom of the shell against the plate '23 (Figs. '7, 8 an'd 8A), whereupon clamping finger j34 releases the shell and swings .out of the way. Clamping finger 34 is mounted on shaft 36 loosely supported in a bearing 37 of frame 21. Shaft 36 carries an operating lever 38 which by means of connecting "rod 39 is actuated from the main drive of'the machine. The free end of the clamping blade 35-is beveled to facilitate its insertion .into the shell, ,and'its machine.

cating slide 52 which is intermittently actuatedother end is attached to a reciprocating gear rack 40 (Fig. 1) actuated by means of a gear sector 41 pivoted to stud 42 supported by main frame 21. Gear section 41 is equipped with an operating lever 43 which through connecting rod 44 receives oscillating motion from lever 26.

As soon as clamping finger 34 has moved out of the way, folder 45, which up to this time served as a lateral extension of plate 23 for supporting the portion of the collapsed shell overhanging the plate 23, starts to turn and bend this overhanging portion of the shell upwardly about the crease forming one lateral edge of the bottom of the shell, as shown in Fig. 9. It may be noted that the axis of rotation of folder 45 coincides with the crease defining this lateral edge of the bottom of the shell, whereby the side of the shell hinged thereon may be readily bent upwardly, thus raising the top and other side of the ,collapsed shell. Folder 45 has the form of an obtuse angle which is congruent with the relative angular position assumed by the top and outer side of the. opened shell when its other side has bee brought to bear against an outstanding abutment gles to the plate 23, and the opened shell snaps back into a squared position. An ejector 46 then pushes the now opened and squared shell S into a transfer arm 47 which takes the shell to a position where the slide containing the articles is inserted.

V Folder 45 is mounted on an oscillating arm 48 attached to a shaft 49 actuated by means of lever 50 and rod 51 (Fig. 2) in timed relation to the clamping finger 34 from the main drive of the Ejector 46 is mounted on a reciprothrough roller 53 carried in a block slidably mounted on lever 26, the roller 53 travelling in a slot of the slide 52 which provides for lost motion of the latter at the end of each stroke. Reciprocating slide 52 is supported in a slideway of main frame 21 and held therein by guide plate 54.

. What is claimed is:

1. In a shell opener, the combination with a magazine adapted to contain a stack of collapsed cardboard shellshaving seams in their bottoms, of a support for the stack, of shells in said magazine, a stationary plate, pusher arms for ejecting the lowermost shell from said stack ontov said plate, a clamping finger movable into position to engage the-top of the collapsed shell on said plate at a region above the seam in its bottom, whereby the portion of the shell adjacent the inner seam edge will be forced open, a reciprocable clamping blade adapted to be inserted into the collapsed shell adjacent its inner seam edge While it s clamped by said finger and to. hold said shell to said plate while-said finger is withdrawn from clamping position, a folder for opening the collapsed shell while it is held by said blade and the clamping finger is out of clamping position, an

ejector for pushing the opened shell off said plate,

and mechanism for actuating said pusher arms,

clamping finger, clamping blade, folder and elecupstanding longitudinal abutment,

.lation.

the lowermost shell from said stack onto said plate, a clamping finger movable into position to engage the top of the collapsed shell on said plate at a region above the seam in its bottom, whereby the portion of the shell adjacent the inner seam edge will be forced open, a reciprocable clamping blade adaptedto be inserted into the collapsed shell adjacent its inner seam edge while it is clamped by said finger and to hold said shell to said plate while said finger is withdrawn from clamping position, a folder for opening the collapsed shell while it is held by said blade and the clamping finger is out of clamping position, and ejector for pushing the opened shell off said plate, and'mechanism for actuating said pusher arms, clamping finger, clamping blade, folder and ejector in timed relation, said plate having an and said folder being rotatable through an angle greater than ninety degrees about an axis coinciding with one corner of the collapsed shell on the plate to open the shell and press it against said abutment, whereby the opened shell will snap back into squared position when released by said folder.

3. The combination with a magazine adapted to. contain ,a'stack of collapsed cardboard shells having seams in their bottoms, a stationary plate, pusher arms for ejecting the lowermost shell from said stack onto said plate, a clamping finger movlapsed shell on said plateat a region above the seam in its bottom, whereby the portion of the;

shell adjacent the inner seam edge will be forced open, a reciprocable clamping blade adapted to be inserted intothe collapsed shell adjacent its inner seam edge while it is clamped by'said finger and to hold the shell to said plate while said finger is withdrawn from clamping position, a folder for opening the collapsed shell while it is held by said blade andsaid finger is out of clamping position, an ejector for pushing the openedshell off said plate, and mechanism for actuating said pusher arms, clamping finger, clamping blade, folder, and ejector in timedre- 4. The combination with a magazine adapted to contain a stack of collapsed cardboard shells having seams in their bottoms, a stationary plate; pusher arms for ejecting the lowermost shell from said stack onto said plate, a clamping finger mov j. able into position to engagethe top of the collapsed shell on said plate at a, region above'the seam in its bottom, whereby'the vportion of the shell adjacent the inner seam edge' will be forced open, a reciprocable, clamping blade adapted to be inserted into the collapsed shell adjacent'lits inner seam edge while it is clamped by said finger and to hold the shell to said, plate while said. finger is withdrawn from clampingfposition, a folder for'opening the collapsed sh'ell while it is held by said blade and said finger is out of clamping position, an ejector for pushing the opened shell off said plate, and mechanism for actuating said pusher arms, clamping finger, clamping blade, folder, and ejector in timed relation, said plate having an upstanding longitudinal abutment, and said folder being'rotatablej through an angle greater than ninetydegrees about an axis coinciding with one corner of the'collapsed shell on the plate to open the shell and press it against said abutment, whereby the opened shell will snap back into squared position when released by said folder.

' 5. The combination witha magazine adapted to contain a stack of collapsed cardboard shells having seams in their bottoms, of a stationary plate, pusher arms for ejecting the lowermost shell from said stack onto said plate, a clamping finger movable into position to engage the top of the collapsed shell on said plate at a region above the seam in its bottom, whereby the portion of the shell adjacent the inner seam edge will be forced open, a reciprocable clamping blade adapted to be inserted into the collapsed shell adjacent its inner seam edge while it is clamped by said finger and to hold the shell to said plate while said finger is withdrawn from clamping position, and mechanism for actuating said pusher arms, clamping finger and clamping blade in timed relation.

6. The combination with a magazine adapted to contain a stack of collapsed carboard shells having seams in their bottoms, of a stationary plate, pusher arms for ejecting the lowermost shell from said stack onto said plate, a clamping finger movable into position to engage the top of the collapsed shell on said plate at a region above the seam in its bottom, whereby the portion of the shell adjacent the inner seam edge will be forced open, and mechanism for actuating said pusher arms and clamping finger in timed relation.

7. In a shell opener, the combination with a magazine adapted to contain a stack of collapsed cardboard shells having longitudinal seams, of a support for the stack of shells in said magazine, a stationary plate, pusher arms for ejecting the lowermost shell from said stack onto said plate, a clamping finger movable into position to engage the collapsed shell at a region opposite the seam, whereby the portion of the shell adjacent the inner seam edge will be forced open, a reciprocable blade adapted to be inserted into the collapsed shell adjacent its inner seam edge While it is clamped by said finger and to hold said shell to said plate while said finger is withdrawn from clamping position, a folder for opening the collapsed shell while it is held by said blade and the clamping finger is out of clamping position, an ejector for pushing the opened shell off said plate,

and mechanism for actuating said pusher arms, 

